INEC Scores RSG High On Grassroots Democracy

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says that Rivers State is one of the states in the country that ensures that democracy strived at the grass roots level.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Hon Aniedi Ikoiwak who stated this on recently commended the Rivers State Government for the uninterrupted conduct of the local government elections in the state.

Hon Ikoiwak who stated this when members of the 3rd commission of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSLEC)  paid him an advocacy visit at the commission’s office in Port Harcourt.

The REC noted that elections at the local government should encourage the people to participate in other elections stressing that people at that level can directly ask the chairman or councilors they elected questions on why things are right or wrong, than having access to a Senator or House of Representatives member.

He commended the Rivers State Government for not creating a vacuum in the electoral commission in the state which he said has made it impossible for setting up of care taker committees.

Hon Ikoiwak further stated that the people at the local government level must fully participate, stressing that elections at the local government level is the heart beat of democracy.

He urged other states to emulate the good work of the Rivers State Government in the promptly constituting of RSIEC and the free hand the government has given them to operate.

Earlier, the chairman of RSIEC, Prof. Augustine Ahiazu said the visit became necessary to enable then sustain the existing brotherly relationship between the two electoral bodies and urged them to maintain the relationship.

Prof. Ahiazu stated that INEC has important role to play for the state electoral body to succeed stressing that RSIEC was determined to conduct a transparent, credible free and fair election in the state.

Meanwhile,  the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has since sworn-in Dr. Kenneth Nweke as member of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, (RSIEC), bringing the number of RSIEC members to Eight.

Speaking shortly after the swearing-in at Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Amaechi advised Dr. Nweke to see himself as non-partisan in politics and be ready to ensure fairness to all political parties during local council elections.